I am not a Sinai medical student, but having spent a great deal of time in NYC, I must ask why you speak of Manhattan as though it were some small new england town?
How is the City?
I am from LA, but my heart lies with New York, and this past week has been exceptionally difficult. Its an amazing place...anything you want at any hour--but if you've never been, it is impossible to describe. New York is well...New York!
C'mon, how's the weather?!? That's not why people go to NYC, they go because of the amazing public transit, because of central park, because of the characters, etc...
Its not California by any stretch, but it doesn't get too cold. For me, the worst (by far) are the steamy summers. Reading your post, you really need to visit the city, it cannot be spelled out in a paragraph--that would do Manhattan a dishonor.